Daily Republican., 1887-11-10
A NEW RACE IN GOTHAM.
New York Letter TO Richmond pisnatcs

The otter day had Just turned into
the square and hsa passed Mott street
when commotion q short distance in
advance attracted my attention. The
heterogeneous mob of pedestrians were
collecting about some moving object.
Hurry up. Sally, let's see lis face, /"
shouted very dirty girl OF ten, whose
frowsy red and freckled face brushed
against my arm. A dozen of the as
sorted babies ON the block-some of
them with faces double the age OF their
bodies-were making for the centre OF
attraction, and l followed their ex-
ample.
Can you guess what caused such q
passing sensation-tor nothing short
OF tire causes more on the bowervS
One poor little Chinese baby of two
Celestial summers, who toddled along
the walk with his tiny fist holding
hard the hand of Chinsman whose
nativ dress indicated that he was well
to do. The little one was attired In a
compromise between New York and
China. with trousers and jacket, and
fancy turban was on his head. A
wonderfully bright face 1t was that
gazed up stolidly at the crowd, and &C.
cepted rough endeavors to caress with
all the serenity of wooden image.
Curious to know who the heather
might be, asked his guardian In my
very hest Chinese, and was informed
that Tom Lee. famous as the only
deputy sheriff of his race in New York
was the father.
Now, knew Tom, who is a clever
fellow and opulent withal, and the
proprietor of pretentious grocery ut
the corner of Mott street and the Bow
cry. | knew, too, that there was q
Mrs. Tom, who was not Chinese, SO
was puzzled to account for the true
features of the boy. and determined to
pay the lady an afternoon call al once
and clear the matter up.
She happened to be visiting, I was
informed. at the cigar store of friend
a few doors deeper into Chinatown.
This shop, which was very neat, was
decorated on one side with China
man nursing a black eye on a soap
box, and on the other with an ordinary
cigar case. Behind the latter sat a
rather pretty woman with German
features, busily engaged in knitting,
and looking 30 neat and comfortable
that it was quite impossible 10 address
her without lifting my hat.
81 beg pardon, madam" said 1,
"but | am looking for the wife of Tom
Lee"
"No, you're looking at her, sir"
was the smiling response.
'Indeedl'
My evident admiration and the pur-
chase of a cent cigar for Is cents
placed me at once upon an easy and
chatty footing, and | related to her the
sensation caused by her youngsters
afternoon promenade
"oh, yes" she said, "they always
follow him."
"But how Is it that he has such
Chinese featuresy'
'1'm sure don't know. | have had
four children since married Tom, and
all looked like their father. Two of
them are dead
'Does q Chinaman make a good
husband2"
The little woman's answer was en-
phatic.
"Well, l wouldn't want to change
my husband. He's always kind TO
me, and when want thing l have
only to ask him ana he gets it,"
''Are there many women of New
York married to Chinameny"
about fifty, l guess. You see,
there are about three thousand China
men in the city and only very few
Chinese women. Babies? Oh, well,
there are about three hundred from
the mixed marriages, but all that l
have seen have the features of the
father. OF course you don't often see
them on the street. Why? Because
they draw crowd, and it isn't pleas
ant for the Chlnaman who has them
in charge. You can find them down
through this street, though, If you
know where to look. Good day, sir
If my baby is still on the Bowery tell
him to come home"
l couldn't help thinking. as ] stroll,
ed on, what new and strange condi-
tions the progress of the Chinaman
here has evolved, and what q startling
thing it would be if all these Chinese
babies were simultaneously deposited
in Madison Square. Yet here they live
their little daily lives among us and
few OF us are the wiser.